Great Indian Reformer

Raja Ram Mohan Roy- Father of Modern India (22 May 1772 – 27 September 1833)

Born on May 22, 1772 to Ramkanto Roy, a great scholar of Sanskrit, Persian and English languages who also knew Arabic, Latin and Greek, and Tarini Devi in Radhanagar in the Hooghly district of Bengal

Considered to be the Father of Indian Renaissance, this multifaceted social, religious and educational reformer is renowned for his pioneering role in opposing practices like Sati, child marriage and social divisions and for advocating education.

INTERESTING FACTS

• Raja Rammohan Roy started the first Bengali language weekly newspaper and also the first newspaper in an Indian language. His pioneering forays in journalism were aimed at educating Indians on a wide range of issues. His newspaper Sambad Koumudi helped people form an opinion about the issues affecting their daily life in British India. In 1822, Roy published the journal Mirat-ul-Akbar in Persian.
• Roy set up the Vedanta College to spread his teachings of Hindu monotheism. He promoted the pure ethical Vedanta school of philosophy. Coming at a time when the government had opened Sanskrit schools, his step was also aimed at promoting subjects like Mathematics, Geography and Latin which, he felt, were necessary to help the Indians keep pace with the rest of the world.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale called Roy the ‘Father of Modern India’. Several historians consider him as one of the pioneers of the Indian Renaissance. He was a nonconformist to regressive traditions
• Roy supported women's rights. He was known for his efforts to abolish Sati Pratha (Hindu funeral practice in which widows were compelled to sacrifice themselves with their husband's pyre) and child marriage.
• Due to his unending efforts, Sati was declared illegal in 1829.
• He also criticised caste system.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy also attacked polygamy and was against the state of widows in our society at that time. He also advocated property inheritance rights for women.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy denounced illiteracy and infanticide. Roy, thoroughly believed that education played an important role in enlightening people about their rights. 
• He promoted a rational, ethical and non-authoritarian Hinduism and is still known for his important role in the making of contemporary Indian society.

Roy is considered to be the "Father of the Bengal Renaissance" by many historians.